Retiring Magic CEO recently called Dwight Howard 'after a couple of glasses of wine'
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The Orlando Magic are unsure whether they'll have star center Dwight Howard when the season opens—the five-time All-Star is, at best, not sold on signing an extension with the franchise, and the Magic have admitted that they'll have to explore trading him.
They'll certainly be without CEO Bob Vander Weide, 50, who is retiring after nearly 20 years with the organization.
Bob Vander Weide, 50, is retiring as Magic CEO. (AP Photo)Vander Weide confirmed that he recently called Howard around 1 a.m. to try to sell him on staying in Orlando, and that Howard thought Vander Weide might've been intoxicated.
"I was playing paddle with friends and had a couple of glasses of wine," Vander Weide told cfnews13.com on Tuesday. "Maybe Dwight thought it was inappropriate to talk business after a couple of glasses of wine... Maybe I should have waited until the morning."
The two, Vander Weide said, have had a solid relationship. "We have a very good relationship," he said, also noting that Howard's intentions are to see the Magic improve this season. "I have a pretty clear understanding where Dwight's head is and that's between him and this organization."
Vander Weide, who promoted to CEO in July 2010 after serving as the team's president for 16 years, said that he's proud of the team's recent success and, in part, stepped down because of the completion of the CBA. "I am faithful to David Stern," Vander Weide said. "I really wanted to get through the CBA."
He'll now fill a consulting role. Alex Martins, the Magic's current president, was named as Vander Weide's replacement.
"This move allows me to be more of a fan than an executive," Vander Weide said, adding that he'll have more time to focus on his wife Cheri, the daughter of Magic owner Rich DeVos, and five kids.
Comments They'll certainly be without CEO Bob Vander Weide, 50, who is retiring after nearly 20 years with the organization.
Bob Vander Weide, 50, is retiring as Magic CEO. (AP Photo)"I was playing paddle with friends and had a couple of glasses of wine," Vander Weide told cfnews13.com on Tuesday. "Maybe Dwight thought it was inappropriate to talk business after a couple of glasses of wine... Maybe I should have waited until the morning."
The two, Vander Weide said, have had a solid relationship. "We have a very good relationship," he said, also noting that Howard's intentions are to see the Magic improve this season. "I have a pretty clear understanding where Dwight's head is and that's between him and this organization."
Vander Weide, who promoted to CEO in July 2010 after serving as the team's president for 16 years, said that he's proud of the team's recent success and, in part, stepped down because of the completion of the CBA. "I am faithful to David Stern," Vander Weide said. "I really wanted to get through the CBA."
He'll now fill a consulting role. Alex Martins, the Magic's current president, was named as Vander Weide's replacement.
"This move allows me to be more of a fan than an executive," Vander Weide said, adding that he'll have more time to focus on his wife Cheri, the daughter of Magic owner Rich DeVos, and five kids.
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